Casket-lowering device



V. PHENIX GASKET LOWERING DEVICE sept. 13, 1927A. 1,641,990

Filed Oct'. 6, 1925 a .3 INVENTOR.

, M70/y /%/Y/x n of i caskets Patented Sept. 13, 1927..

freres r orties."

vm'roiv HENIX, or Gassner, ooLoRaDo.

" .Application filed October 5, 1925. Seria'lito. 60,707. y

This invention relates 'to a ering caskets intograves; j

'y There arefa-t` present 'devices lupon Y the market for vthis purpose.. These devices, however, are operated by gravity, tiat is, by the weight of the casket and body, and cann not be used for caskets containingthe light bodies ofl childrenas there is not sufficient weight to roperate the. mechanism.

The principal objectv of this invention ris to provide a device of this ycharacter which will befespecially applicable to the lowering jcontainingthe vbodies' of children.V v

Another object is toprovide a device of this character which will be operated by er:- ternally .applied power so that the .descent of thel casketwill be controlled by the amount of power applied and` noty by the' weight yof the casket.

Other objects-and advantages reside in the detail construction of the invention, which is designed for simplicity, econoinv,` and efi` ciency. n These will become more apparent from the following description. Y

In the followingdetailed descriptionof fthe invention referenceis hadto the accomof, the

panying drawing which forms a part hereof. Like numerals referto like parts in all views of the drawing and throughout thedescription.

In the drawing: i v Fig. 1 is a perspectivek view of-anopen grave'illustrating the device ready for use.` Fig. 2 is a plan view. of the device.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged end'elevation theregear housing being shown in section. i y e Fig. 4 is a detail view of a tape tension device which may with the invention.

The invention comprises an open frame 10V of the proper size to tit around the opening of a grave, such as illustrated at 11. J ourknaled as shown at 34, along each side of the frame 10, are hollow shafts 12 and 13. Two tapes 14, extend betweeny and coil around, the shafts 12 and 13...

- The .shafts 12 and 13 are caused to simultaneously operate in opposite directions by means of a crossed chain` 15 operating over` `sprockets 35 carried on` the shafts 12 and' 13. The shaft 13l also carries a small spur vpinion 16 which meshes witha countersh-aft gear 17 secured on a Vshort.countershaft'18.

device for lowbe employed in connectionV A countershaft pinion 19 'is also'carriedsewith drive gear 2O secured on'a shortdrive shaftv 21. Anoperatinglever 22is`secured to the drive gear 2O andthe drive shaft-2l;

vThe vgear ratio of tne described gearing the tape ldescends into the grave. The

Vextremity of the cable 24 connects with. a tension spring 25. rlhe pull of the Vspring 25 'tends to 'draw the lever 22 to the extreme `right handv position and keep the tapes .14

taut. rllhe strength of the spring 25A is such. as' to support a casket `of the maximum weight for which the particular device'is designed so that, should the operating handle be released at any point, the weight .of the casket will be insufficient to operate the device. e l'n operation, a casketV is rested upon the tapes la over the open grave. It is sup- Vcured on the counter-.shaft 18 and meshes ported byr the tapes 14, which are prevented Y from descending bythe action of the spring 25, the friction ofthe gearing, and a notchV 26 in segment 27 in which the lever 22 is engaged. Y l/Vhen it, is desired to lower the casket the lever is disengaged from'the notch 23 and raised. This action results in stretching the spring 25 and unwinding the tapes 1d from the shafts 12 and 13. Should it be desired to arrest the'descent of the casket midway for 'the funeral services, the lever 22 is allowed to engage in a second notch 28 `in the segment 27, from which position, it is moved to athird notch 29 at which time the casket willrefst on the ioor of the grave.

lt is desired to impress thefact that operation of the device does not depend upon, nor is it operated by. the weight of the casket, but that thedevice is forced to lower the casket by manual 'power applied to thelever 22.

To cause the tapes 14: to uniformly build up as they reel upon the shafts 12 and 13, If

the. members 31 and arranged to eonshuiiljf Contact with the surface oi the tule :is it Winds upon the shafts.

`Wl11e fr speeic, forni of the imiroveirieiit has been described and lhlirzited herein, ii; is desired to be understood time the sume muy be. varied, within the scope 0i die :uw pended claim, without departing from spirit of the invention.

1^InA'i1ig Mms deheribed the invention, what I claim :uid desire secured by Letters Patent is In n ezxsdwc mrering device lluvilig :i frame adapted to surround :i gravee und parallel inimitable burr.; connected by bands carried iig' mid imme, :i rhum camsjiiiy; mid here to mide in maken md im @puede directions; draft eperutirey eoiiiieeited to one ris; n drive el mit eperiitirely e011 ld wel frizifi; :i errml; secured i re H :m efzpzuifiibie spring Medir weer@ :u ire eine extremity; zuid a, liiedimu emitted Le the other eX- md :1de ded ie wind upon :seid drive 

